Prince Harry Once Called Helen Mirren 'Granny' After Her Portrayal of His Grandmother the Queen

Dame Helen Mirren has been known by millions as the Queen following her star turn in the movie of the same name — and Prince Harry has even teased her by calling her “granny,” the actress said Thursday, joking that she was “insulted” when Harry made his remark.

You'll get the latest updates on this topic in your browser notifications.

The Oscar-winning actress, who appeared on Good Morning Britain to launch this year’s Prince’s Trust Mentor of the Year award, also praised Meghan Markle for how she’s handled her move into royal life.

“No that’s never mentioned . . . he’s too tactful,” she said. “The younger [princes], Harry and William, have mentioned it to me and they have been very funny and very cool about it.

David M. Benett/Getty

“I think Harry once at an awards ceremony said, ‘And granny is here’ and I was rather insulted by that. I mean, really!”

When asked about Meghan joining the royal family, Mirren said, “I think right from the moment that relationship was revealed she conducted herself with incredible self-restraint, elegance, discipline and simplicity and humanity.”

“I was an admirer . . . it’s an incredibly difficult life to lead, talk about pressure. I think she is doing it with great elegance,” she added.

Much of what the Prince’s Trust does involves mentoring of young people as they try to get into employment or training.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

“I was very lucky. A lot of kids don’t have the advantage of good parenting, and I did have good parentingm” she told the ITV show. “But even with good parenting when you are out in the world and you’re intimidated by the challenges of the professional world.”

“I had a wonderful teacher who guided me towards the National Youth Theatre and I then had a co-actor, Sir Ian Richardson, who was a wonderful mentor for me and believed in me when I was a young, very insecure actress. He was a brilliant, brilliant actor and he was just so incredibly kind.”

“If you have that kindness, that encouragement . . . I would encourage any, older person in any workplace always be encouraging towards young people, always support them.”

She added that the Prince’s Trust, “right from when it was first conceived by Prince Charles was obviously specifically to help young people entering into their future life, the workplace to help them set-up businesses, to become self-sufficient.”

“And of course a big part of that is mentoring. I think the Prince’s Trust have been wonderful not just encouraging young people but encouraging young people to become mentors. That’s what this award is about.”